Is Barcelona`s Pique on Borrowed Time?

With a new man at the helm, with Ernesto Valverde replacing Luiz Enrique, it remains to be seen how the new incumbent of the head-coach role goes about stamping his footprint on the club.

Having only won the Copa del Rey last season, Valverde will be looking to shake things up to try and break Real Madrid`s apparent current domination.

One area where the Spanish press are predicting change is at the heart of the Barcelona defence.

Various Spanish press outlets are suggesting that one of Valverde`s first moves will be to bring in a centre-back to rival Gerard Pique.

Although Pique has been a mainstay at the heart of the Barcelona defence since joining the club from Manchester United, in 2008, Valverde, according to the Spanish publication Diario Gol, isn`t happy with Pique`s contribution believing that the 30-year-old centre-back needs to be more focussed on what goes on, on the pitch, as opposed to strutting around like a president.

Quite how Pique, who has been a loyal servant, will react to threat slight on his footballing character remains to be seen, as does the fact that Valverde has asked those in charge of such matters to seek out a centre-back to bring to the club.

If the above does result in friction between Pique and Valverde, Pique won`t want to lose out on his position in the starting eleven, what with 2018 being a World Cup year.